My name is ronny marty . I'm originally
from the Dominican republic . How does
everything start ? Everything started
in 2009 back in the Dominican Republic
when I heard from France that they were
in a us company coming to recruit
people to work in the US who told
me it's a company that is recruiting
people to work in hotels . So I have
experience and had experience working
at hotels . So I thought it could be a
great opportunity for me to make some
money and help my family . So I went
for the interview , which it was a
president to interviews . During that
process , I was told by the recruiter
that there were a lot of job job
opportunities in the U . S . So there
was a big demand and it's good pay with
benefits . So something that really
attracted me . Um so when I passed
uh the interview process I was told
that I had to pay for the recording fee
which was around $3,800 .
Uh and that I had to also pay for
the travel expenses area . Had the
money for the security that I had to go
and get that from friends and family
and for the travel expenses . The
recruiter said that do not worry about
that . We can work it out and you can
actually pay us later . We're going to
pay that upfront and you pay us later .
So don't know where about that . And I
will tell you it was dead bandage
something that I didn't know , what was
it and I will explain you later during
this interview . So when the
interview process , they were also
telling me that uh we need a work
Visa which is for nine months
and in order for me to work in the US .
So when I got everything and the time
came that I was at the airport and I
received my passport from the recruiter ,
the passport states that the visa is
only for three months . And I asked the
recruiter why is that when I was
promised that the visa is for nine
months . So he taught me that I don't
have to order by that because they're
going to be extended automatically .
Okay . So when me and the other group ,
we landed to Kansas city where we were
supposed to work at hotels . When we
get there there were people waiting for
us and they took us to our first
destination where we were supposed to
spend our first night . So when we got
there , one of the managers um talked
to us and said that there are no jobs
in Kansas City , the jobs they have is
in Huntsville Alabama and and I
complain about that and I say why if
you knew that you didn't have hotel
jobs in Kansas city , you still tell us .
And we came here . And he said because
he got really mad at us and things
became really ugly and he said , you
take it or you live it at that moment .
At that point there was no other option
that take it because in order for us to
go back to our country without any
money and we'll with the debt that we
already have on top of it , there was
not an option just to live it . So we
took it and they transport us
from Kansas City to Huntsville Alabama
the next night That transportation
costs us $50 each . And we were
transferred In many events , many
events that are built for eight people .
We were 12 people plus our luggage . It
was a crappy trip , But we didn't have
any other options . So as we didn't
have money to pay for the $50, . the
recruiter said kindly do not worry
about that . We're just going to add it
to your bill . And that is that bandage .
And I we're going to explain to you
later something that we didn't know .
So when when the time Cameron we
arrived to Alabama hospitalabama . So
we're getting two apartments , one
veteran apartment , 45 people .
So we're supposed to pay $300
each per month in one billion apartment ,
four and five people . It was
okay to me it was my first experience
so I didn't know and I will explain to
you about that too because it just gets
added into my bill on the day advantage .
So uh we got the
job DVD company
Where we were working 12 hours a day
and what we were doing there is
actually packing cds ,
stalling . We were moving
boxes . That was the job that we were
doing there . So um on
our first paycheck I noticed that I
just made $40 . So I asked my recruiter
why is that when I check my pay stop ,
All the deductions were there . So they
are , my paycheck was sustained uh
deduction for the transportation from
Kansas city to Hospitalabama . They are
charging me a portion of the visa
extension when they told me that visa
extension is going to be for gonna be
renew automatically that I don't have
to do anything . So that was coming on
my pay stop deducting from , from my
paycheck . They're ranked part of the
portion of the rent that we had to pay
monthly . So uh they were also
charging for transportation from our
apartment to the job . Uh so
something that , I mean I was not aware
that I'm gonna be charged so much money ,
so when I get my paycheck back , I'm
not able to even send money to my
family or to survive here . So I
mentioned that they were charging $300
per individual in the one bedroom
apartment where we were four and five
individuals . So I realized later on
that the recruiter Uh it's pain only
$400 a month . So if you do the math ,
you will find out that if you have four
people in one bedroom apartment , each
of us pay $300 , it's $200 . Mhm . A
month . And he spent only $400 . So
he's making just out of our um
ranked $800 just in one bedroom
apartment . Imagine so
our advantage keep increasing
and let me explain it . The advantages
a method used for recruiters for
employers where they um
are very kind to put money up
front , give it to you . They offer you
the money to pay for things for you for
services and later you can , you have
to repay them . But what they don't
tell you is when you got to repay them
is a high interest rates that they
charge you is something unclear .
So you start paying money in a
high interest . So you're never gonna
really finished paying them with the
little money that you're making . A lot
of cases . You you don't make money or
you make me the money or you don't make
money . So that's , that's how they
actually trapped you . Um There are
the bandage that actually passed from
one generation to another generation
and this is because there's no
knowledge , there is no people , they
don't know about it . I mean you just
get trapped on that and you are not
like in our situation , we were not
allowed to work for any other company .
So how are we going to make the money
and repay them if we're not allowed to
work in another company and in order
for us to pay them . I mean how many
hours a day we have to work . So
impossible . So the time came
in and one time we were at our
apartment and the landlord came
and asked us to pay for the rent . I
said that's impossible because we've
been paid for the rent every month .
And I showed her our pay stop and all
the deductions including the rent . So
she called a recruiter that in this
case was our trafficker . She called
him and and and claimed to pay for the
rent . He said uh he is not going to
pay for the rent . So the landlord came
back to me and say you know there is
something fishy here , There is
something wrong , there's something
that is no right . So would you like to
speak to the news ? So she put me
encounter with the Huntsville newspaper
and she asked me if I agreed to speak
to them and tell them the situation
where we're going through because as he
was not paying the range , you know ,
um , and we were not making money . So
we were at that time we were hungry and
no money even to pay the rent . But the
landlord and the manager there was so ,
so kind and understanding understanding
the situation that they actually
provide us food for us to eat . So I
started , I started speaking to the
news . So I , I spoke to the reporter
from the Handspring newspaper and
explain that what situation . So they
recruited hurt what I was talking to
the press and he called me and said you
better stop talking to the kneels or
you will see what could happen to your
family back in the Dominican republic .
We know where you live there . Um So
because they have all our information .
When you apply for a job with them ,
they get all your information where
your family leave your previous job ,
your friends and and address and
everything . So I was really worried
about what could happen to my family .
I didn't know what those people were
capable to do . So he started
threatening me with both things . Um ,
I asked him about the range if we've
been painting , why don't you pay the
rent ? So he get really really ugly on
me . And and he kept saying like
you better stop talking to the news .
That's what I want to tell you . And I
say you know what you also been
charging us for the visas , uh the
extension and then we were paying for
extension , something that we were not
supposed to pay and we still don't have
the visa . At that point , he said , no
your visa was denied . I said if the
visa was denied , why don't you give us
the money back ? And he said that he
would give us the money back , but we
have to continue working . So that's
what we did . We continue working until
the time came that we could escape .
And we went to uh we went from
Hospital Obama . We actually went to
New Jersey . And it's another story
because we were also uh scammed by
another company and from New Jersey ,
we want to biloxi Mississippi and the
loss in Mississippi , we met mary
for the catholic church
place , she spoke spanish and she
helps us out . We told her our story
and and she said that we might be a
victim of human trafficking at that
point , I didn't know was what human
trafficking was . So she asked me if I
want to talk to law enforcement and I
say you know what , at this point I
don't care , I don't have anything to
lose because I just heard from people
like if you go to law enforcement ,
what they do , they take your
information and after they just kick
you out , that's it . And I told her
you know what , I don't have anything
to lose . And I was so concerned and so
all the fears that we were experiencing .
So when I spoke to her , she put me in
contact and she put all of us in
contact with ice . Uh
and one agent from eyes , her name is
julie Grace . She came and we talked to
her and she was very professional ,
very kind . I didn't trust anybody at
that point at that point regarding who
was that ? I couldn't trust anyone
because of what happening with with the
recruiter . So , but julie Grace was
some professional . She treated us in a
way that um we fell sucked
um peaceful and calm and
and and and we felt that we can trust
her . So there was an interview process
with her and they the attorney
general from cancer that was coming to
biloxi Mississippi . So julie put us in
contact and with
with resources where we could get
housing , mental health um that
we also get food . Uh so that was
great . I was so grateful
to julie Grace because she actually
knew how to treat survival . And it's
something that was not happening uh
frequently , but she was so
professional and she was so we're
trained how to deal with people with
trauma . Because at that time I was
having nightmares where every night
and I'm telling you almost every night
I was just dreaming about the
trafficker chasing me coming back after
me . I was having nightmares from the
trafficker . That was that was in
in in agreement with the people that
were helping me to actually go and hunt
me . That's that's the that's the way
that was having those nightmares . So
because you don't trust people when
you're in that situation , when you're
with that trauma , you don't really
trust anyone . But julie , Grace was
amazing . With the time she work
out our work permit , she applied for a
work permit because our visa was
inspired ready . So in order to be um
illegal in this conscience and what
legally and she applied for that and
uh we get our were preparing for a year
after that um julie
and also the attorney general after the
case was closed , they help us to
apply for the they gave us all the
documentation that we needed to apply
for the TVs tv . So it's a Visa that
it's one of the rights that survivals
of human trafficking half . So a T . V .
S . Uh that was granted for four years
at the term of three years . You need
to apply for your green card , which I
did it . I did it before because the
case was closed and I was able to
reunite with my family . That was
something great to happen to me . My
case is unique . Um because in
2014 I had the privilege to go to the
White House and get together with a
lot of uh survivors of human
trafficking . And these stories were
totally different from my story . They
didn't get the resources that they were
supposed to get and what my help me
in that situation . I think more people
should not about what's going on , what
is human trafficking ? There should be
more awareness out there , and that's
what I'm raising my voice all the time .
Two people understand what is human
trafficking that is rear that is
happening . How can you protect your
kids , you young people , anyone can
be a victim regardless . You have a
high degree , you have a high education ,
you can be a victim of human
trafficking . You don't know with what
method the trafficker were actually
trapped , you the the trafficker would
threat you . So we can say , oh no ,
I'm not gonna fall into that , I'm not
going to be a victim , you don't know .
So now that , you know , the signs of
human trafficking and that you actually
can get help , it's what we want . We
want to bring the awareness to people
out there to protect your kids , to
protect your arm , uh , on the youth
in any adult , anything that you heard
that is so , so good to it would be so
good to be true . Please . But look for
reference , just do a research first
before going into a company that
is also one that is offering certain
things that are so good to be true . Um ,
something that could help me might be
able to help me during that time if
someone was knowledge of what was going
on , uh in that case , I think I
received help from my landlord because
she knew there was something fishy
happening . Um and she actually put me
in contact with the news and that ,
that that was my first , my first way
out because I was able to speak to the
news for someone who , who actually
knew what was going on . I mean , she
didn't totally knew what was going on ,
but she thought something was not right .
And that's when everything started . If
you have people around you , your
neighbors and they know it about human
trafficking , they know the signals and
they can help , they can make the first
call and help you . Because if you can
help yourself , but someone sees you
and they can help you , um , and call
the first responder so you can get the
help that you need . But nothing that
looks so good , you know , would be
true . So , we need to do the research
before accepting anything . And
especially the runaway youth ,
I know there's a lot of problems in
families and and we're gonna find
people out there . They're going to
offer us to take care of us of course .
And then we offer things but remember ,
nothing in this life is for free . So ,
um , is my advice that
anything that looks so good , just do
the research and just don't accept it
until you know from a true source .
Is that where you're going is a safe
place . Um , I want to keep doing that .
Uh , and I really want to keep
working toward helping other victims
and in bringing awareness to the
community and do all the outreach that
we can . But we can't we can't if we
get together , if we are all alert , if
we all know what to do , we kind of
stopped that . And that would be all
together if you can help one person ,
you help the wall of that person .
So I invite you to
join the forces and join the movement
and be alert . And if you see something ,
say something , there's always a way to
get out and to my fellow survivors . I
always say there's hope . There's
always hope . There are a lot of people
out there working . A lot of people ,
good people working , that are more
good people than bad people . So don't
lose your faith . God is good . God
bless you .